Sometimes when we have things we’d like to get done in our VA businesses, we get sidetracked.

You start out with good intentions.

You know it’s something important to finish.

But somehow things go wrong. You get overwhelmed with everything that’s involved or distracted with something else.

Here are my 5 best tips on how to get things done.

–1. Be really clear about the project you’d like to finish.

Make it something specific. For example, saying that you want to set up your virtual assistant business is too general. Choose one thing that will help you to make that happen. Let’s say that you’ve decided you want to create a website for your VA business. That would be a good, specific project.

–2. Know why the project is important.

Take a minute to define this. What will you gain by finishing this project? Write it down. Sometimes just seeing this on paper, and referring to it when you get distracted, will help you to keep moving forward.

In our “create a website” example, you might write down that you want to finish this project so that you have a home base online. Having a website will help people to find you, and get to know, like and trust you. It will be a place to make it clear the services that you offer and the people you help while showcasing your skills.

–3. What does “finished” look like to you?

This one is simple but important. You need to define your end result so that you know when you’ve completed the task. Your project needs a stop point. It could simply be that your website is fully complete with all pages finished, and the site is now live.

–4. Break it down.

The next tip is to list all of the tasks you’ll need to do in order to complete this project. Take some time and list every task involved in completing your project. The smaller you break down these things, the better.

If your goal was to create your website, some of those tasks might be to make a list of pages you need, outline each page, decide on colors and fonts, have a logo created, purchase a domain name and sign up for a hosting account.

–5. Schedule it.

This last tip, in my opinion, is the most important one of all. Now that you have your task list, assign a date to each to-do item. When scheduling, be realistic about the time it will take you to complete each task. Get it on your calendar, however that looks for you. You might schedule everything in Google calendar, write it into your daily planner or mark it out on a whiteboard calendar.

You can use and repeat this process for any project you’d like to complete in your business. It will help keep you on track and finish what you started.

Speaking of that, I’m hosting the Finish What You Started Challenge in the Marketing Mastermind for the month of March 2018. We’re going through these exact steps together as a group. Each group member is choosing a project they’d like to complete.

If you’d like help and support, and a chance to go through this process with me so that you can get things DONE in your VA business, join us!

Do you feel like you’ve been trying “all the things” when it comes to marketing your VA business, but you’re just not getting clients?

I went through the SAME thing in my VA business.

But then I learned some key insights that helped me turn this around and start working with clients that I loved.

Check out the details in this 8-minute video (or read the transcript below):

Full Transcript:

Hey, it’s Alicia at New VA Advice. Today, I want to have a heart to heart with you about your marketing.

I want you to be honest with me:

Right now, do you feel like you are trying “all the things” in order to get clients?

If the answer is “yes” I know how that feels.

When I started my VA business, I was definitely trying all the things to market. I didn’t have experience in this world. I wasn’t sure what I would need to do to market and get clients, whether it should be online, offline or how to go about it. I didn’t really know.

I would research things. If someone said, “Try this method. It’s the best ever,” I would try it.

Then someone else said, “You should try this.” I would try it.

“Get engagement on your Facebook page.” I would do that.

“Find people on LinkedIn.” I thought I should do that.

“No, you should blog.” Okay, I’ll do that, too.

I was everywhere.

I was trying all the things.

I was trying so hard, but I wasn’t getting clients from doing all of that.

What I learned is that, there are a lot of different marketing methods out there, but what works for each person is different.

Your business is unique. What works for you might not work for someone else. That’s what I had to figure out for myself.

It depends on your services and your market. There will be a unique combination that works for you.

Once I figured out that combination for myself–what worked best for me, my business and style, my potential clients–and I was consistent about it, things changed and I did start getting clients.

That was a big deal for me.

The people in my Marketing Mastermind groups felt the same way. They were trying all the things. They didn’t feel focused. They weren’t getting the results that they wanted.

They came into the Marketing Mastermind, and then they learned.

Each person got a marketing plan. We created it together, tailored specifically for them. Then they worked that plan and got support in the group.

Let me give you some examples:

Example #1:

One group member got clearer on her target market. In turn, she was able to think like them, figure out where to find them, and then connect with them at those places. Then she started getting clients.

Example #2:

Another group member realized that she needed a combination of offline and online marketing methods. That’s what worked best for her, with the services that she offered and the market that she wanted to reach. Once she figured out a good combination and was consistent with it, she is now constantly making connections, getting new leads and getting clients from that.

Example #3:

Another group member found her groove by posting online challenges and utilizing list building. She’s really connecting with potential clients now. She’s engaging with these people and building relationships. They’re interested in what she has to offer.

When you sign up, you get a private call with me first. We go over where you’re at and where you want to be in your business. Together, we create an initial marketing plan that makes sense for you. It’s not just, “Read this book and figure it out.” We will do this together and figure out what’s going to work best for you.

We make that plan together. Then you use the Marketing Mastermind to work that plan. You get a private resources page that gives you all the products that I’ve created on marketing your business. I will specifically tell you if there are certain parts that apply to you and what you’re doing. You’re not left with, “Here, read this book.”

The biggest part of the Marketing Mastermind groups—the thing that people tell me they get the most out of—is our live calls. We get on the phone as a group twice a month for a live call. It can be a game changer for you.

This is your chance to get on and tell us, “Here’s what I’m up to.” You are held accountable for what you’ve been doing. This is your chance to ask questions and get guidance from me on the call. You get support from your other group members.

Right now, you have two options. We have two groups running. There is a weekday call time available at 1:00 PM Eastern. There is also a weeknight call time available at 9:00 PM Eastern. You pick which group fits your schedule best.

We also have a private Facebook group. In between the calls, it’s a good place to come in and ask questions. It’s a great place to get feedback. Members come in all the time, show us what they’re working on and ask for feedback. They get great support from myself and other group members. Maybe they’re making a sales page, working on their services page, drafting an email or trying to figure out how to handle a particular situation. They get support with those things within the Facebook group.

The other cool thing is that this is a crazy-affordable monthly rate. There is no minimum number of months to join. Stay as long as you want and get the support that you need.

Who is this best for?

This is good for you if you’ve done some of the basic foundational business building pieces already, like figuring out the legalities, choosing a business name and coming up with your services.

If you’re at the point where you have those things in place and you are ready to market and get clients—but you’re not feeling focused, and you’re not sure what will work—then this is what the Marketing Mastermind is for.

You get the support you need. It’s affordable. You get to move forward and start getting clients that you like to work with.

I invite you to think about this, and what it would mean for you and your business to stop doing all the things, taking advice from here, there and everywhere. You’ll really focus, talk to people who have done this before, and be supported by other members who are going through the same thing. You’ll make a marketing plan that’s just for you and then start working that plan.

Start getting clients that you really like to work with.

Start creating the business that you’ve been wanting—a business that you love.

Join us! I would love to see you in there, work on your plan with you, and see you create your business.

If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, comment or send me a message with your questions. If you think you know someone who might be a good fit for the Marketing Mastermind, please share this information.

Track and analyze results

Track where you spend your time and what results you’re getting. For example, are people signing up for your free optin? Has traffic increased to your blog? Are you making solid relationships with potential clients that result in conversations about working together?

Take some time to check your results and see how your social media marketing plan is working for you. Tweak and adjust as needed.

Remember, you need to give it time to work. Real relationships are not created in one week. Be consistent, have goals and work your plan.

Putting it all together

If you found this helpful, but you want to know more about how to work these steps in your own business, I have a couple of ways for you to make this happen:

–1. Sign up for my free5 Day Online Marketing Challenge where I take you through this process with actionable steps so that you can create your online marketing plan.

–2. Join us in the Marketing Mastermind and get support from myself and your peers as you plan out and TAKE ACTION on your online marketing plan in order to get clients that you love. Stop going it alone. Start seeing results for your efforts!

On Sunday nights and Monday mornings, as I scroll through my Facebook feed, what I usually see are posts about how everyone is dreading Mondays.

And I smile, realizing that I don’t feel that way anymore. This is for a couple of reasons. I’m going to share them with you so that your Mondays can be awesome, too!

Reason #1

The first and biggest is that I run my own business and I make the rules, so Monday doesn’t have to be so dreadful.

When I started my virtual assistant business years ago, I realized that I was finally free from the 9 to 5. I didn’t have to show up for work when someone else told me to. I didn’t have to work certain hours imposed by someone else.

Reason #2

Another reason that I think Mondays are awesome, and I don’t dread them, is because I figured out a schedule that works best for me. I make sure to include time in my schedule for the things that are important to me: time with my family, personal time, business time, time to work out. It’s all scheduled in.

At the end of the week, I take a look at what I want to accomplish for the next week. I organize my list and calendar. This way, when Monday comes, I open my planner and just get started. I don’t feel frazzled, jumping from one thing to the next without a clear direction.

Reason #3

Perhaps one of the best ways that Mondays are awesome for me is that, as a business coach for virtual assistants, I get to help other people reframe their mindset when it comes to their business, life and goals. I get to be the one to help them see a different way—a better way. I get to encourage, motivate and support them while they create something they really want.

I have to tell you, that feels SOOO good!

And I’m really enjoying doing this within the context of my Mastermind groups. Group members tell me all the time that the accountability and support they get in the Masterminds is what really keeps them going.

Let me tell you a little more.

The Startup Mastermind is for when you’re starting out and setting up a solid foundation.

This is for you if you’re working on setting up your VA business, processes, systems, taking courses, etc. You’d love accountability to keep moving forward and a place where you can ask questions when you’re stuck or overwhelmed.

The Marketing Mastermind is for when you’re ready to market your business in order to bring in clients that you love.

This is for you if you’ve set up all the behind-the-scenes of your business and you’re ready to start bringing in clients. You’d love some accountability as you create a marketing plan that works for you, and a place to ask questions when you feel stuck or overwhelmed.

Both Masterminds include live group calls with me, a private Facebook group and private resources on my website. Both of these options are very affordable at $19.99 USD per month. There is no minimum monthly commitment. So, you can leave the Mastermind at any time.

This is affordable accountability and support!

So, instead of dreading Monday, I see it as a day full of new possibilities. I get to shape this week and make it look any way I want. I get to go after my goals. I get to make things happen. A much more exciting way to look at the beginning of the week, isn’t it?

Join us in one of the Masterminds and change that way YOU look at Mondays.